Victory at Nandigram

international | anti-capitalism | news report Friday January 18, 2008 11:20 by Margaretta D'Arcy - Women in Media & Entertainment

Bengal Government caves in to popular resistance

Last January, the peasantry of Nandigram in West Bengal, India, rose up to prevent the State Government from expropriating their land and transforming it into a special economic zone for the Indonesian-based Salim Group. Nandigram became off-limits for government representatives, with villagers digging up roads and burning down bridges to keep them out.

On 17 December 2007 Women in Media & Entertainment held an Awareness Vigil at the Indian Embassy, Dublin, and secured an interview with the Ambassador, Mr Saurabh Kumar, expressing our concern. We have now received a letter from Mr M. C. Naithani, Minister at the embassy. In it he assures us that “the Government of West Bengal has announced that there will be no acquisition of land for the chemical hub Special Economic Zone. The Central Government remains committed to providing all possible help and assistance to the State Government to maintain peace, restore complete normalcy and maintain rule of law in the affected areas. The situation is now normal and under control.” This is a fantastic victory for the peasants of Nandigram, who despite the utmost brutality employed against them, including the massacre of 14 villagers, stood together and saved their land and way of life.